Process and apparatus for treating a pressurized feed stream capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction

Abstract

Processes and apparatus for treating a pressurized feed stream capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction are disclosed. The process includes dividing the feed stream and heating a portion of the feed stream in an endothermic reaction zone so as to produce an endothermic reaction product, subjecting that product to a secondary processing step which is favored by a reduction in temperature, expanding the other part of the feed stream, indirectly contacting the expanded portion of the feed stream thus produced with the endothermic reaction product in order to reduce the temperature of the endothermic reaction product and increase the temperature of the expanded portion of the feed stream, and utilizing the expanded portion of the feed stream as means for adding heat to the initial portion of the feed stream sent to the endothermic reaction zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for reforming a pressurized hydrocarbon feed stream comprising dividing said hydrocarbon feed stream into a first hydrocarbon feed stream and a second hydrocarbon feed stream, heating said first hydrocarbon feed stream in a reforming reaction zone so as to cause said reforming reaction to occur and to produce a reforming reaction product, expanding said second hydrocarbon feed stream so as to produce an expanded second hydrocarbon feed stream of reduced pressure and temperature, indirectly contacting said expanded second hydrocarbon feed stream with said reforming reaction product so as to reduce the temperature of said reforming reaction product and increase the temperature of said expanded second hydrocarbon feed stream, and utilizing said expanded second hydrocarbon feed stream having an increased temperature as a fuel for supplying heat to said first hydrocarbon feed stream in said reforming reaction zone.